Ironing table



a. o. IRONING 'VIIIABLE Oct. 26, 1943.

Filed May 12, 1941 iff /Ma x's. MmumyMa/M I/v wax 706i Guy 0 Mum/7 ms Patented Oct. 26, 1943 2,332 927 I IRONINGTABLE Guy 0. Miller, Oak Park, IlL, assignor to Henry V.- Keller,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 12, 1941, Serial No. 392,996

(or. sa -117) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing tables and more particularly to means for effectively locking the collapsible legs of an ironing table in set up position with additional means for quickly and conveniently releasing the table legs for collapsing thereof.

It is a general object of my invention'to provide an ironing table having pivoted legs and bracing structure wherein a portion of the bracing structure extends from a leg unit upwardly to the table top at a point spaced from an edge thereof in addition to means for releasably locking the locking brace and a release for said locking means which is conveniently located closely beneath the top and closely adjacent the edge of the table.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an ironing table with a locking brace extending from the rear legs releasably forwardly and upwardly, means for securing said brace to the under side of the table top at a point remote from its ends, and a release for said securing means extending therefrom to a point closely adjacent an edge of the table to facilitate releasing of the locking brace.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, .wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ironing "table constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with the legs folded against the top;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the legs extended;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the catch looking at the bottom thereof and Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The drawing illustrates a table including a top 6. A substantially V-shaped front leg I is pivotally secured to brackets 8 which are fastened to the under side of the top at points spaced laterally from the longitudinal center of the top 6. The front leg 1 preferably has a rubber foot 9 secured thereon at its lower end.

A pair of rear legs Ill having rubber feet lfla are pivotally secured to brackets I l which lie in spaced relationship at the rearward end of the top and each of the legs I 0 is braced by a brace l2 which is secured intermediate the ends of legs Ill and also pivotally connected to one of the brackets H. The brackets II are slightly divergent forwardly and as the rear legs II] are swung down from beneath the table top said legs will tend to spread outwardly, the length of each brace l2 being greater than the distance from its point of connection with the leg I 0 and the point where the leg I!) is pivotally connected to the bracket ll.

A V-shaped leg brace l3 has the ends of its arms pivotally connected to the rear legs l0 and the forward point of the brace I 3 is pivotally secured to a clip M which in turn is rigidly connected to the lower end of the front leg I. The connecting brace not only stabilizes the front and rear leg units, but also causes said leg units to move in synchronization.

A guideway comprising an elongated bar I5 is secured along the longitudinal center of the top 6 on the underside thereof, said bar being spaced downwardly from the top throughout most of its length and at its ends being bent upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 5, to be secured to the top by means of screws I6. Lying fiat against the underside of the top immediately above the guideway I 5 is a relatively narrow strip of metal I! which is substantially co-extensive with the lengths of said guideway bar l5. As best indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the guideway I5 is spaced a considerable distance from each end of the table top 6. This guideway I5 is adapted to receive the convergent portion or forward loop of a locking brace 88 whose arms are connected to the rear legs ill by means of pivotal fastenings Hi. It should be noted that the locking brace I8 extends forwardly and upwardly to a point near the center of the table top 6 when the legs are extended downwardly from said top. This positioning of the brace I 8 contributes greatly to the rigidity of the table when it is set up.

Means is provided for releasably securing the locking brace l8 in the position shown in Figs, 1 and 3, and this securing means is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Adjacent the rear or left-hand end of the guideway I5 is a substantially U- shaped bracket 20 which is secured to the guideway in any suitable manner, the arms of the bracket 20 extending downwardly and carrying a pivot pin 2| which supports a generally U- shaped latch member 22. The latch member is adapted to swing upwardly into the path of movement of the locking brace l8 to retain said locking brace at the left-hand end of said guideway I5. The spring 23 has one endbent beneath and around the lower portion of the latch member 22, its intermediate portion being bent around the pivot pin 2| and the opposite end of said spring 23 bearing against the guldeway i5. A latch release lever 24 is pivotally secured to a fulcrum bracket 25 which is mounted on the underside of the board rearwardly of the guideway I5, and the right-hand end of said release lever 24 is pivotally connected by pin 28 to the latch 22. A pivot pin 28 preferably works in oval shaped slots 24a formed in the side flanges of the latch 22 to provide for slight shifting movement in the pivotal connection. As best indicated in Fig. l, the release lever 24 is spaced downwardly somewhat from the underside of the table top 6, and its left-hand end extends rearwardly and terminates closely adjacent the rear edge of said table top 8. y

In use with the legs folded upwardly against the underside of the table top 6 the table can be set up by holding the table above the floor and permitting the front and rear legs to swing downwardly under their own weight. As this is done the forward end of the locking brace 18 will move along the guideway l from the righthand end to the left-hand end thereof and said locking brace l8 will snap past the spring catch 22. The table is then rigidl locked inset-up position ready for use. a

When the table is to be collapsed it is necessary only to grasp the left-hand or rear end of and reaching imder the table to release the brace the releasing lever 24 and press said rear end upwardly toward the table top to pull the spring catch 22 downwardly, thus freeing the locking brace ill for movement in the guideway IS. The rear legs are lifted from the floor and the front portion ofthe table top 6 is tilted downwardly, keeping the front legs I in contact with the floor. The legs are folded up against the table top and the locking brace l8 will move to the right or forwardly in the guideway I 5. The metallic strip I! is provided for use with the conventional wooden table top. When the table is set up and utilized for ironing, the metal strip l'l prevents the pivot loop at the forward end of the lock brace l8 from pressing into and injuring the underside of the wooden top when pressure is applied to the table.

As stated above, it is extremely desirable to locate the locking brace It! at or somewhere near the center of the underside of the table top 6 to provide for a more rigid structure. With the brace l8 locked in that position, however, the latch 22 is in a location which requires stooping I8 or turning of the table up on an end-to permit the release of the latch 22. However, with the releasing lever 24 extending to a point closely adjacent an edge of the table top it is an extremely simple matter to release the latch 22 and the locking brace l8.

It will, of course, be understood that va ious changes may be made in the form. details. arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing table, a'top, spaced front and rear leg units pivoted to and swingable downwardly from said top, means for rigidly bracing said leg units in downwardly extending position, said bracing means including a locking brace extending from an intermediate pOint on said rear leg unit and diagonally upwardly and forwardly to said top adjacent the center of the underside thereof and being slidably connected thereto, a pivoted latch secured to said top adiacent the central under portion thereof, and a pivoted release lever for said latch swingable toward and away from said top and extending outwardly along the underside of said top and having one end terminating closely adjacent an edge thereof, said one end being swingable toward the underside of said top to release said pivoted latch 2 The structure in claim 1 and said release being a lever of the first order.

3. In an ironing table, a top, spaced front and rear leg units pivoted to and swingable downwardly from said top, means for rigidly bracing said leg units in their downwardly swung position, said bracing means including a brace extending from one of said leg units upwardly to said top adjacent the center of the underside thereof and movably associated with said top, a pivoted latch secured to said top adjacent the central under portion thereof, and a release lever connected to said latch and extending outwardly along the underside of said top and having one end terminated closely adjacent an edge or said top, said release lever being mounted for movement relative to said top and having said end movable toward the underside of said top to actuate said latch and release said bracing means.

GUY O. MILLER. 

